Anti-aging medicine is an evolving medical research branch aiming to extend lifespan, improve health, and help maintain youthful function as we age.^[1]

A related field to anti-aging medicine is regenerative medicine. It is a branch of medicine that develops methods to regrow, repair or replace tissues and organs damaged by age, disease, or trauma. Stem cell therapy is a popular treatment option in regenerative medicine^[2].

Anti-aging doctors often have access to advanced testing and treatments that may help to:

• Identify underlying causes of accelerated aging in each individual. These can be due to genetics or lifestyle factors such as diet, stress, hormonal imbalances, or medical conditions.
• Improve or manage age-related issues, including slow and, in some cases, reverse biological age.
• Reduce the risk of age-related disease with preventive medicine strategies.
• Promote a youthful appearance via aesthetic medicine procedures (surgical or non-surgical) or internally with diet, supplements, hormone replacement therapy, and others.

Potential risks: Anti-aging medicine is a field that is constantly evolving. Many treatment options are relatively new, with a limited amount of long-term studies. Always discuss the benefits vs. risks with your doctor to see whether a treatment option is a good fit for you.

Like other branches of medicine, doctors often undergo diverse medical training from different institutes. With anti-aging medicine being an emerging field, there may be fewer options.

The American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M) is one of the most known institutions specializing in anti-aging medicine training.

The two most common board Certifications through A4M include:

• ABAARM Certification – for doctors with MD or DO degrees
• ABAAHP Certification – for other health practitioners.

It’s always a good idea to ask your doctor about their medical background and how long they have been in practice after completing their training.

Most insurance plans do not cover a treatment whose sole intention is anti-aging. There are cases where your insurance may cover specific tests and treatments that are FDA approved for other purposes but also offer anti-aging benefits.

Always speak with your doctor during the initial consultation and openly discuss insurance to know what costs to expect. Your doctor’s practice and medical degree, insurance plan, state regulations, and many other factors can determine whether your insurance will or will not approve and cover treatment.

To give you an idea, some of the common anti-aging medicine treatments that your insurance may cover include:

• Conventional tests that are often used in anti-aging medicine. For example, Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) is a test that measures your average blood sugar levels over the past 3 months. Conventional doctors use this test to diagnose prediabetes or diabetes. This test can also indicate your body’s amount of glycation, a known aging factor. Another example is the popular C-reactive protein (CRP) test which measures the inflammation levels in the body. To learn more, see Dr. Maita’s article on common anti-aging tests. 
• Metformin. Prescribed medication for type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Because Metformin has shown impressive potential to promote longevity pathways and extend lifespan and healthspan, many anti-aging doctors include it in their protocols. To learn more about metformin, including natural alternatives, see Dr. Bajnath’s article berberine vs. metformin.
• Hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Your insurance may cover HRT for specific medical conditions or diagnoses, such as if a female patient experiences symptoms of menopause. Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) in men is another example. If your testosterone levels are low enough and meet specific testing criteria required by your insurance company, they may approve and cover some or the entire treatment.